Music 507: Seminar in Music Composition and Theory

Iannis Xenakis: Structure and Intuition

(Fall 2012)

Time: F 10-12:50Room: 1140 Music Building (it might change)Credit: 2 or 4 creditsPrerequisite: Graduate standing in music composition theory, or
consent of instructor.

Iannis Xenakis was one of the foremost 20th century composers who introduced
a completely new way of composing music. The seminar will concentrate on
his music with brief forays into his techniques, aesthetics, and philosophy.

Vocal Works
Piano Works
Electro-acoustic Works
Percussion Works
Orchestral Works
Polytopes
String Quartets
Other Chamber Works

Main features of Xenakis' music; Esthetics and Philosophy (November 30
- December 7)

Textures
Lines
Timbres
Form
Montage
Self-Borrowing

Due to the amount of material to be covered, students will contribute through
class presentations on one or more of the above topics. The final grade
will be based on these contributions and on a substantial final paper
(15-20) pages. The exact topics will be chosen (not exclusively) from
the following categories and according to each person's background and
abilities:

musical analysis of a piece

comparative and critical appraisal of available recordings

performance challenges - lecture demonstration

discussion of a particular technique in comparison with
other contemporry composers' techniques.

Each meeting will include listening to works or substantial fragments of
works and there will also be listening assignments. Students will be
required to write 1-2 pages of comments after each listening.